Method of grounding a computer system board

ABSTRACT

A supportive ground clip for a computer system board mounted in a computer chassis and a method for installing a grounded printed circuit board in a computer shassis using the supportive ground clip. The supportive ground clip includes a base member for providing a grounding connection with the chassis, flexible support members attached to opposite ends of the base member and ascending vertical members attached to the flexible support members for mounting the supportive ground clip to the computer system board. Each of the flexible support members includes a contact point for providing a grounding connection with the bottom side of the computer system board and each of the ascending vertical members includes a contact point for providing a grounding connection with the top side of the computer system board. The first and second flexible support members are shaped such that compressive forces exerted on the supportive ground clip support the computer system board within the chassis. To install the computer system board, at least one electrically conductive grounding clip is mounted in an aperture provided in the board such that the grounding clip is positioned to engage grounding pads electrically connected to the board&#39;s components and such that at least part of the grounding clip extends below the board. The board is then slideably installed within the chassis and supportably mounted above the base by engaging the grounding clips and the base.

This is a division of application Ser. No. 07/620,272, filed Nov. 30,1990 now U.S. Pat. No. 5,138,529, issued Aug. 11, 1992.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a ground clip for a computer system board and,more particularly, to a ground clip which supportably mounts a computersystem board above a computer system chassis base.

The invention further relates to a method for installing a groundedprinted circuit board in a computer system chassis and, moreparticularly, to a method for installing a supportably grounded,slideably mountable printed circuit board in a computer system chassis.

2. Description of Related Art

A computer system typically includes at least one computer system boardmounted within a protective chassis formed of a hardened material suchas steel. Most commonly, a computer system board which is mounted withina protective chassis is comprised of a plurality of electroniccomponents having multiple pin connectors mounted on an underlyingsubstrate which provides interconnections between the connector pins ofthe various electronic components. As most electronic componentstypically include at least one connector pin which must be connected toground, providing a conductive path from each electronic component toground has long been an important concern in designing computer systemboards. As the protective chassis within which the computer system boardis typically mounted is often utilized as the ground for the computersystem board and its components, it is often necessary to furnish aconductive path from the computer system board to the protectivechassis. Most commonly, the computer system board is provided with aground point that is electrically connected to the electrical componentsrequiring a path to ground. The ground point is then electricallyconnected to the chassis. However, because of the high density ofelectrical components mounted on a typical computer system board, mostcomputer system boards require more than one independent grounding pointto fully satisfy the board's grounding needs. As a result, multipleelectrical connections between the computer system board and the chassisare often required.

In addition to grounding requirements, computer system boards alsodemand support and mounting requirements. In most computer systems, thecomputer system board is supportably mounted directly above the chassisin order to optimize grounding connections and flexibility. However,because the electrical components mounted on the computer system boardutilize the chassis as a ground, direct contact between the chassis andthe electrical components must be avoided, as such contact could createa short-to-ground for the electrical components. The mounted systemboard, therefore, must be firmly secured above the chassis, since anyexcessive vibration that allows the board to contact the chassis couldcreate a short circuit and potentially inflict irreparable harm to theboard and its components. Finally, it is advantageous if the board isconfigured such that the installation and/or removal of the board may becompleted without disrupting other components within the computerchassis. It is well understood by service personnel that limiting accessand removal of the system board can create problems during field repair.

While prior ground clips satisfactorily provided a path from theelectrical components to ground, such ground clips failed to providemechanical support sufficient to maintain the board above the chassis.Furthermore, such prior clips were not configured to promote theslideable installation of the board. For example, in a "unit-to-unit"ground, a system board is inserted into a docking bay wherein agrounding contact between the two is formed. The unit-to-unit ground,however, fails to provide any shock or vibration protection for thesystem board. The required stability can only be accomplished byadditionally fastening the board to the chassis.

Support of the system board has been addressed separately. Presently,many computer systems are provided with posts or premounted standoffsfor supporting and securing the system board above the chassis. Mostcommonly, these standoffs are formed as vertically oriented chassisprojections which engage the bottom of the system board. The systemboard is provided with corresponding apertures positioned directly abovethe standoff so that the board may be screw mounted to the standoff.While the use of standoffs securely mounts the system board to thechassis, their use is not particularly well suited for manyapplications. In particular, standoffs severely limit flexibility indesigning the system board. Specific board locations must be selectedand dedicated for a series of screw mounting apertures which correspondto the standoff locations on the chassis. Once selected, the aperturelocations may not be modified without modifying the chassis as well. Asa result, the exchangeability between system boards and chassis arehindered because the screw mounting holes and standoffs for the systemboard/chassis configuration for a first computer system are usuallyprovided in different locations than the screw mounting holes andstandoffs for the system board/chassis configuration of a secondcomputer system. A separate chassis, therefore, must be manufactured foreach type of system board such that the chassis standoffs correspond tothe mounting holes on the boards. Furthermore, because of theirlocational inflexibility, the standoffs are sometimes not suitable forfunctioning as the only grounding connection for the system board.Accordingly, separate grounding connections must be provided. Finally,due to the rigid construction of the standoffs, the system board canonly be lowered onto the standoffs. Laterally sliding the system boardinto a predesignated slot would likely result in damage or removal ofthe electrical components or circuitry on the under-side of the board.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one embodiment, the present invention is of a supportive ground clipfor a computer system board mounted in a computer chassis. Thesupportive ground clip includes a base member for providing a groundingconnection with said computer chassis, first and second flexible supportmembers attached to opposite ends of the base member and means, attachedto the flexible support member, for mounting the supportive ground clipto the computer system board. Each of the flexible support membersincludes a contact point for providing a grounding connection with thebottom side of the computer system board and the mounting means includesa pair of contact points for providing a grounding connection with thetop side of the computer system board. The first and second flexiblesupport members are shaped such that compressive forces exerted on thesupportive ground clip support the computer system board within thechassis. In one aspect of this embodiment of the invention, the contactpoints which provide a grounding connection with the bottom side of thecomputer system board are biased against the bottom side by thecompressive forces exerted on the supportive ground clip. In anotheraspect of this embodiment of the invention, the supportive ground clipfurther includes resiliently bending pivot sections which join the endsof the base to the first and second support members. In this aspect ofthe invention, the pivot section absorbs compressive forces exerted onthe supportive ground clip to support the computer system board mountedin the chassis. In still another aspect of this embodiment of theinvention, the supportive grounding clip further includes first andsecond ascending vertical members attached to the first and secondsupport members, respectively. In this aspect of the invention, the baseof the supportive ground clip is arcuately shaped to bias the ascendingvertical members against aperture sidewalls included as part of thecomputer system board.

In another embodiment, the present invention is of a one-piece,integrally formed supportive ground clip for a computer system boardsupportably mounted on a base of a computer chassis. The supportiveground clip includes a flexibly resilient arcuate base member forproviding a grounding connection with the chassis base, first and secondflexible hinges integrally formed at opposite ends of the arcuate basemember for supporting the board on the chassis base, flexible supportmembers integrally formed with the flexible hinges for contacting thebottom side of the computer system board to provide first and secondgrounding connections, ascending vertical members integrally formed withthe flexible support members for extending through apertures in thecomputer system board, and descending vertical members integrally formedwith the ascending vertical members for contacting the top side of thecomputer system board to provide third and fourth grounding connectionsfor the board. The flexible hinges also bias the flexible supportmembers against the bottom side of the board and the arcuate base memberbiases the ascending vertical members against the aperture sidewall. Inone aspect of this embodiment, the flexible support members include anascending section integrally formed with the corresponding hinge and adescending section integrally formed with the corresponding ascendingvertical member such that a junction of the ascending section and saiddescending section contacts the bottom side of the computer systemboard.

In yet another embodiment, the present invention is of a method forinstalling a grounded printed circuit board in a computer chassis.First, at least one electrically conductive grounding clip is mounted inan aperture provided in the board such that at least part of thegrounding clip extends below the board. The grounding clips arepositioned to engage grounding pads positioned adjacent to theapertures, thereby providing a grounding path from electronic componentsmounted on the board to the grounding clips. The board is then slideablyinstalled within the chassis while maintaining the board above the baseof the chassis by the engagement of the grounding clips and the base. Agrounding path between the electronic components to the base is thenprovided via the grounding pads and the grounding clips. In one aspectof this embodiment, grounding clips are mounted in apertures provided atspaced locations on the board, thereby providing for the support of theboard after installation.

It is an object of this invention to provide a single apparatus thatfacilitates the insertion and removal of a computer system board from acomputer chassis, while at the same time, grounding the components onthe system board and supporting the system board above the chassis.

It is another object of this invention to provide design flexibility forcomputer system boards and computer chassis, such that a single chassiscan be constructed that would accommodate several types of computersystem boards.

It is yet another object of this invention to eliminate the use ofstandoffs to mechanically support a computer system board within acomputer chassis.

It is still yet another object of this invention to establish reliableelectrical grounding between the computer system board and the chassisat various locations.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention may be better understood and its numerous objects,features and advantages become apparent to those skilled in the art byreferencing the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a supportive ground clip for a computersystem board constructed in accordance with the teachings of the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a computer system board supportablymounted within a computer chassis using the supportive ground clipillustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 3--3 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of the supportive ground clipillustrated in FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring first to FIG. 1, a supportive ground clip 10 constructed inaccordance with the teachings of the present invention may now be seen.The supportive ground clip 10 may be formed using a thin strip of anyflexible conductive material suitable for the uses contemplated herein,although, in the preferred embodiment of the invention, the supportiveground clip 10 should be formed using a 0.008 inch thick strip of a tinplated, copper alloy containing Beryllium.

Continuing to refer to FIG. 1, the supportive ground clip 10 includes anarcuate base member 12 comprised of first and second elongatedcontactors 14 and 16 positioned substantially parallel to each other andseparated by a laterally extending slot 18. First and second contactors14 and 16 are integrally joined together at first and second ends 20 and22 of the arcuate base member 12. Integrally formed with the first andsecond ends 20 and 22 are first and second flexible support members 24and 26. The flexible support members 24, 26 extend upwardly from theends 20, 22, respectively, at an angle such that the distance separatingcorresponding points at the top of the first and second flexible supportmembers 24 and 26 is less than the distance separating correspondingpoints at the bottom of the first and second support members 24 and 26.Preferably, the ends 20, 22 should be bent into an arcuate curve suchthat ascending sections 25, 27 of the flexible support members 24, 26extend upwardly from the corresponding ends 20, 22 at a generally ninetydegree angle. This bend between the ends 20, 22 and the flexible supportmembers 24, 26 form flexible hinges for the supportive ground clip 10.

The ascending sections 25, 27 of the first and second flexible supportmembers 24 and 26 continue to extend upward and inwardly until bendingdownwardly at crests 28, 30, respectively. Descending inwardly from andintegrally formed with the crests 28, 30 are descending sections 32, 34of the flexible support members 24, 26. Preferably, the descendingsections 30, 32 should be bent at a generally ninety degree angle to theascending sections 25, 27. The descending sections 32, 34 are then bentupwardly at, preferable at an acute angle, to form first and secondvertical ascending members 36, 38. Preferably, the vertical ascendingmembers 36, 38 are positioned generally perpendicular to the center ofthe arcuate base member 12. The other ends of the vertical ascendingmembers 36, 38 are bent outward and downwardly at peaks 40, 42, again,preferably at yet another acute angle, to form descending members 44,46, which terminate at ends 45, 47, respectively.

Referring next to FIG. 2, there is shown a perspective view of a printedcircuit board 48 mounted within a protective computer chassis 49constructive of a hardened conductive material such as steel. For easeof illustration, the printed circuit board 48 includes only a selectednumber of the electronic components 50 which would be typically mountedthereon. Also for ease of illustration, while each electronic component50 would typically include sixteen or even more pin connectors, onlyfive pin connectors 50a are illustrated in the drawing. Finally, whilethe printed circuit board 48 would include numerous electricalconnectors, any number of which may be formed along the top side of, thebottom side of, or internal to, the printed circuit board 48, thedrawing illustrates only four electrical connectors 48a, 48b, 48c, and48d, all of which are illustrated as being formed on the top side of theprinted circuit board 48 but which could very readily have been formedon the bottom side of or internal to the printed circuit board 48. Thefirst electrical connector 48a provides for connection between externalinput/output devices (not shown) and the electrical components 50. Thesecond electrical connector 48b provides for electrical connectionbetween a pair of electronic components 50. The third electricalconnector 48c provides for electrical connection between an electricalcomponent 50 and other internal computer components (not shown), such asperipheral input/output means such as a disk drive or a hard disk or apower supply, mounted within the chassis 49. Finally, the fourthelectrical connector 48d provides for electrical connection between anelectrical component 50 and a grounding pad 60a to be more fullydescribed below.

To connect the printed circuit board 48 to external I/O devices (notshown) such as a printer, display, modem or other device typicallyassociated with a computer system, a series of connectors 51 are mountedalong a first edge of the printed circuit board 48. Each connector 51 isscrew mounted to a common connector panel 51a which is preferablyconstructed of a conductive material as part of a path to ground forelectrostatic discharge events which are propagated to the connectors51. Preferably, the connector panel 51a includes a side panel 51bintegrally formed with a top panel 51c. Each connector 51 includes atleast one connector pin 51d which, depending on the particular type ofconnector 51 utilized, on one end, will either project from, lay flushwith, or be recessed within the side (not shown) of the connector 51from which external access is provided, and which is electricallyconnected to the printed circuit board 48 on the other end. Finally, theprinted circuit board 48 is also provided with a selected number ofapertures 58 for mounting the supportive ground clips 10 thereto as wellas a series of secondary support apertures 64, both of which shall bemore fully described below.

Continuing to refer to FIG. 2, the supportive ground clips 10 aremounted to the printed circuit board 48 to support the printed circuitboard 48 above a base 49a of the chassis 49. Further support of theprinted circuit board 48 is provided by a first slidable entry guide 54,preferably constructed of an insulative material such as plastic, whichis mounted on the base 49a and a second slidable entry guide 55 which ismounted to a sidewall 49b of the chassis 49. While first and secondslideable entry guides 54, 56 assist in the installation of the printedcircuit board 48 within the chassis 49 in accordance with one aspect ofthe present invention, once installed, the first slideable entry guide54 supports a first edge 48e of the printed circuit board 48, the secondslideable entry guide 55 supports the connector panel 51a and aninterface 56 mounted to an inner chassis plate 49c supports a front edge48f of the printed circuit board 48.

To mount the printed circuit board 48 within the chassis 49, the groundclips 10 are first installed on the printed circuit board 48. The frontedge 48f of the printed circuit board 48 and the connector panel 51a areapproximately simultaneously inserted into a groove 54a formed in thefirst slidable entry guide 54 and a space 55a defined by a top panel 55bof second slideably entry guide 55 and the base 49a of the chassis 49,respectively. The printed circuit board 48 is then slid forward untilthe front edge 48f of the printed circuit board 48 engages the interface56. When installing (as well as extracting) the printed circuit board48, the arcuate base member 12 slides over the base 49a of the chassis49. Supportive ground clip 10 remains in place by the engagement of thevertical ascending members 36, 38 with the sidewall 62 of the aperture58. The crests 28, 30 and the ends 45, 47 further secure supportiveground clip 10 in place during the sliding process. The rear edge 48g ofthe printed circuit board 48 is then secured by screw-mounting the rearedge 48g to a rear bracket (not shown) by inserting screws throughapertures 64 where they may engage the rear bracket.

The present invention eliminates the need to lower the printed circuitboard 48 onto standoffs which, in accordance with the teachings of theprior art, projected from the base of the computer chassis, during theinstallation of the printed circuit board 48 as well as eliminates theneed for the aforementioned standoffs to support the printed circuitboard 48 once installed. The slideable installation of the printedcircuit board 48 permitted by the utilization of supportive ground clips10 assists a technician servicing a computer system by permitting afaster extraction of the installed printed circuit board since screwspreviously required to secure the printed circuit board 48 to thestandoffs are no longer needed.

As FIG. 2 makes clear, installation and extraction of the printedcircuit board 48 is greatly facilitated by the use of the supportiveground clips 10. The technician merely slides the printed circuit board48 along the base 49a of the chassis 49 until the front edge 48f engagesthe interface 56. The present invention also improves theinterchangeability of printed circuit boards 48 within a chassis 49. Asis well known in the art, the grounding requirements for two differentlydesigned printed circuit boards 48 are quite distinct. For example,depending on the particular type and number electronic components 50mounted on the printed circuit board 48, the preferred number andlocation of ground points vary. In the past, when standoffs fixedlysecured to the chassis were utilized as paths to ground, the ability tomodify the grounding paths when a first printed circuit board wasreplaced with a second, different, printed circuit board was severelylimited. In contrast, the present invention provides for dramaticallyimproved grounding point flexibility since the location and number ofgrounding points is completely controlled by the printed circuit board48.

Prior to installing the printed circuit board 48, however, thetechnician must first install the supportive ground clips 10 to theprinted circuit board 48. Referring now to FIGS. 1, 2, 3, and 4, incombination, the uninserted supportive ground clip 10 is firstcompressed, preferably by grasping the flexible support members 24, 26at or near the flexible hinges such that the vertical ascending members36, 38 approach each other a sufficient distance so that the ends 45, 47are separated by a distance less than the shorter axis (length "b") ofthe general elliptically shaped aperture 58. The supportive ground clip10 is inserted through the aperture 58 from the bottom side of theprinted circuit board 48 with the ends 45, 47 extending lengthwise alongthe longer axis of (length "a") of the aperture 58. The supportiveground clip 10 is inserted through the aperture 58 until the crests 28,30 contact the bottom side of the printed circuit board 48. At thispoint, the ends 45, 47 of the supportive ground clip 10 should beprojecting from the top side of the printed circuit board 48. Thecompressive pressure is now released so that the arcuate base member 12may bias the vertical ascending members 36, 38 against a sidewall 62which defines the aperture 58. The release of the compressive pressurealso biases the ends 45, 47 and the crests 28, 30 such that the ends 45,47 engage the grounding pads 60a, 60b on the top side of the printedcircuit board 48 and the crests 28, 30 engage grounding pads 60c, 60d onthe bottom side of the printed circuit board 48. A first wiping actionwhich cleans the grounding pads 60a, 60b, 60c, and 60d and facilitatesthe creation of a proper grounding connection is produced when the ends45, 47 and the crests 28, 30 are biased into contact with the groundingpads 60a, 60b, 60c and 60d, respectively, by the release of thecompressive pressure. A second wiping action is produced during thepreviously described installation and/or extraction of the printedcircuit board 48 when the ends 45, 47 and the crests 28, 30 undergo arelatively small motion when the supportive ground clip 10 is compressedby the base 49a of the chassis 49 during the installation and/orextraction of the printed circuit board 48.

As may be seen in FIG. 3, the grounding pads 60c, 60d on the bottom sideof the printed circuit board 48 are provided with a larger surface areathan the grounding pads 60a, 60b on the top side of the printed circuitboard 48. The larger surface area is required in order to accommodatethe greater distance between the crests 28, 30 than between the ends 45,47. As may also be seen in FIG. 3, the arcuate base member 12 flattensunder pressure from the printed circuit board 48 such that the surfacearea of the arcuate base member 12 that is in contact with the base 49aof the chassis 49 increases. This increased surface area insures aproper electrical correction has been established. Furthermore, theweight of the printed circuit board 48 facilitates the support functionof the supportive ground clip 10 as well. As the weight of the printedcircuit board 48 pushes down on the supportive ground clip 10, thecrests 28, 30 are pushed outward, thereby increasing the stability ofthe supportive grounding clip 10 as well as providing a secureconnection between the supportive grounding clip 10 and the printedcircuit board 48. As a result of this secure connection, the groundingconnection between remains intact in the presence of vibrationstransmitted to the chassis 49. Additionally, a gas-tight connection sealis achieved both through the compressive force due to the interaction ofthe end 45, 47 and crests 28, 30 of the supportive ground clip 10 on theprinted circuit board 48 and, after installation of the printed circuitboard 48, the compressive force due to the interaction of the crests 28,30 pushing upwards on the printed circuit board 48 and the variousmounting devices (i.e., first slidable entry guide 54, second slideableentry guide 55, interface 56) provided around the perimeter of theprinted circuit board 48 which holding the printed circuit board 48down. This creation of a gas-tight connection seal is important becausethe seal excludes gas capable of corroding the grounding contact pointsfor the supportive ground clip 10. Any corrosion at these points wouldhinder the electrical grounding connection required for the properoperation of the supportive ground clip 10. Finally, the contactors 14,16 provide a dual path to ground, thereby ensuring an effectivegrounding connection between the supportive ground clip 10 and thechassis 49. The effective grounding connection is ensured because thecontactors 14, 16 provide redundant paths to ground. If, for example, animperfection exists on the base 49a or if a dust particle becomes lodgedbetween the base 49a and one of the contactors 14, 16, the othercontactor 14, 16 will still provide a path to ground.

Thus, there has been described and illustrated herein a supportiveground clip for a printed circuit board which provides a groundconnection for the board, supportably mounts the board over the base ofthe computer chassis and which permits the slideable installation andextraction of the board. Those skilled in the art, however, willrecognize that many modifications and variations besides thosespecifically mentioned may be made in the techniques described hereinwithout departing substantially from the concept of the presentinvention. Accordingly, it should be clearly understood that the form ofthe invention as described herein is exemplary only and is not intendedas a limitation on the scope of the invention.

What is claimed:
 1. A method of installing a grounded printed circuitboard in a computer chassis, comprising the steps of:providing a printedcircuit board having a front edge, top and bottom side surfaces and atleast one aperture extending between said top and bottom side surfaces,said printed circuit board having a grounding pad mounted on said topside surface adjacent to each of said at least one aperture andconnector means mounted on said top side surface and positioned adjacentto said front edge; insertably mounting an electrically conductivegrounding clip in each of said at least one aperture such that a firstportion of said grounding clip mounted in each of said at least oneaperture extends below said board; positioning said grounding clipmounted in each of said at least one aperture to engage said adjacentgrounding pad on said top side surface; providing a computer chassishaving a base, a sidewall portion and interface connection means mountedon said sidewall portion; slideably installing said board within saidchassis by sliding said board across said base of said chassis untilsaid connector means operatively engages said interface connectionmeans; maintaining said board above said base during said installingstep, thereby preventing damage to said board, said first portion ofsaid grounding clip mounted in each of said at least one apertureextending below said board and engaging said base to maintain said boardabove said base while simultaneously providing a grounding path fromsaid grounding pad on said top side surface adjacent each of said atleast one aperture to said base through said grounding clip mounted ineach of said at least one aperture; and maintaining said grounding pathafter operative engagement of said connector means and said interfaceconnection means.
 2. A method as set forth in claim 1 and furthercomprising the step of insertably mounting a plurality of electricallyconductive grounding clips in apertures positioned at spaced locationson said board, said plurality of mounted grounding clips supporting saidinstalled board.
 3. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the step ofinsertably mounting an electrically conductive grounding clip in each ofsaid at least one aperture such that a first portion of said groundingclip mounted in each of said at least one aperture extends below saidboard further comprises the steps of:compressing each said groundingclip; inserting each said grounding clip through said correspondingaperture; and releasing each said compressed grounding clip, each saidreleased grounding clip springingly engaging said board.
 4. A method asset forth in claim 3 wherein the step of releasing each said compressedgrounding clip further comprises the step of wiping said grounding padengaged by each said grounding clip.
 5. A method as set forth in claim 1wherein the step of maintaining said board above a base of said chassisduring said installing step further comprises the step of sliding eachsaid mounted grounding clip across said base.
 6. A method as set forthin claim 5 and further comprising the steps of providing slotted guidemeans mounted on said base, said slotted guide means sized to receivefirst and second side edges of said board, and wherein the step ofslideably installing said board within said chassis further comprisesthe steps of:inserting said first and second side edges of said boardinto said slotted guide means; and sliding said board across said baseuntil said connection means operatively engages said interfaceconnection means.
 7. A method of installing a grounded printed circuitboard in a computer chassis, comprising the steps of:providing a printedcircuit board having top and bottom sides and at least one apertureextending therethrough, said printed circuit board having first andsecond grounding pads mounted on the top and bottom sides, respectively,adjacent to each of said at least one aperture; insertably mounting agrounding clip in each of said at least one aperture adjacent to saidgrounding pads; positioning said grounding clip in said correspondingaperture such that a first part of said grounding clip contacts saidfirst and second grounding pads on said top side of said printed circuitboard and a second part of said grounding clip projects downwardly fromand contacts said first and second grounding pads on said bottom side ofsaid printed circuit board; slideably installing said printed circuitboard within said computer chassis; and securing said slideablyinstalled printed circuit board such that said grounding clip provides aconductive path from said grounding pads to a base of said computerchassis.
 8. A method according to claim 7 wherein the step of slideablyinstalling said printed circuit board within said computer chassisfurther comprises the steps of:positioning said printed circuit board tobe generally parallel with and spaced above said base of said computerchassis a distance slightly less than the downward projection of saidsecond part of said grounding clip below said bottom side of saidprinted circuit board; said base of said chassis compressing saidgrounding clip during said slideable installation of said printedcircuit board, said compression causing said grounding clip to wipe saidfirst and second pads on said top and bottom sides, respectively.
 9. Amethod according to claim 8 wherein the step of insertably mounting agrounding clip in each of said at least one aperture further comprisesthe steps of:compressing said grounding clip; inserting said groundingclip through said corresponding aperture such that said first partprojects above said top surface of said printed circuit board and saidsecond part projects below said bottom surface of said printed circuitboard; and releasing said compressed grounding clip, said releasedgrounding clips springingly engaging said board.
 10. A method accordingto claim 9 wherein the step of releasing said compressed grounding clipfurther comprises the steps of:wiping, with said first part of saidgrounding clip, said first and second grounding pads on said top surfaceof said printed circuit board; and wiping, with said second part of saidgrounding clip, said first and second grounding pads on said bottomsurface of said printed circuit board.
 11. A method of installing agrounded printed circuit board in a computer chassis, comprising thesteps of:providing a printed circuit board having a front edge, firstand second side edges, top and bottom side surfaces and at least oneaperture extending between said top and bottom side surfaces, saidprinted circuit board having a grounding pad mounted on one of said sidesurfaces adjacent to each of said at least one aperture; insertablymounting an electrically conductive grounding clip in each of said atleast one aperture such that said grounding clip engages said groundingpad adjacent said aperture and a first portion of said grounding clipmounted in each of said at least one aperture extends below said board;providing a computer chassis having first and second slotted guidesmounted thereto, said computer chassis having a base, a sidewall portionand interface connection means mounted on said sidewall portion;inserting said first and second side edges of said board within saidfirst and second slotted guides, respectively; slideably installing saidboard within said chassis by sliding said board across said base untilsaid board operatively engages said interface connection means;maintaining said board above said base during said installing step, saidfirst and second slotted guides and said first portion of said groundingclip mounted in each of said at least one aperture maintaining saidboard above said base, said grounding clip mounted in each of said atleast one aperture simultaneously providing a grounding path from saidgrounding pad adjacent each of said at least one aperture to said base;and maintaining said grounding path after operative engagement of saidboard and said interface connection means.
 12. A method as set forth inclaim 11 wherein said first and second slotted guides are mounted onsaid base.